Hamner Advances in ITA National Fall Championships

COLUMBIA, S.C. – No. 1 newcomer Sarah Hamner advanced to the round of 16 in the ITA National Fall Championships on Thursday. She is the third Gamecock to make the round of 16 in the event. 
 
Hamner faced Tennessee’s Elza Tomase in the round of 32 in an all-freshman matchup. She settled in quickly and took the first set in a commanding 6-1 decision. Tomase came back to win the second set 6-4, but Hamner was not fazed. The Gamecock newcomer dominated in the third set and bested her Volunteer foe 6-2 to advance to the round of 16.
 
No. 29 Ayana Akli played a competitive match against No. 7 Irina Cantos Siemers of Ohio State. Akli fell 6-3 in the first set but swiftly came back to take the second set 6-4. The final set of the match was closely contested but ultimately Siemers came out on top in a 7-5 decision to knock Akli out of the main draw. 
 
On Friday, Hamner will play Southern California’s No. 18 Salma Ewing in the main draw round of 16. Akli will participate in the consolation draw, in which she will face No. 110 Alicia Herrero Linana of Baylor.
 
Day 1 Results
No. 7 Irina Cantos Siemers (OSU) def. No. 29 Ayana Akli (SC) 6-3, 4-6, 7-5
Sarah Hamner (SC) def. Elza Tomase (TENN) 6-1, 4-6, 6-2